ABORTION IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA COMPARATIVE WITH ABORTION LEGISLATION IN EUROPE

AVRUPA’DAKI KÜRTAJA İLIŞKIN YASAL DÜZENLEMELERLE KARŞILAŞTIRMALI OLARAK BOSNA-HERSEK’TE KÜRTAJ

Özet

Our first purpose in this study was to attempt an overview of theeffects of liberalisation of legal abortion-policy. Secondly we tried to explainthe backgrounds of the abortion-problem. We made an inventorisation offactors leading to unwanted pregnancies and we looked for an answer tothe question why so many people are opposed to abortion.Abortion is as controversial in many countries. Many governmentsstruggle to strike a balance between the rights of pregnant women andthe rights of unborn fetuses. As the following summary of abortion lawsand practices in 30 countries shows, this often leads to complex policiesgoverning when and under what circumstances a woman may legallyhave an abortion.Beginning in 1952, abortion legislation in the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia went through a process of liberalization inresponse to the significant increase in illegal abortions associated withhigh levels of maternal morbidity and mortality. The subsequent changesin the abortion laws were expressly directed at facilitating access to legalabortion in order to discourage illegal practices. For instance, asignificant decline in the number of illegal abortions is attributed to thedecision in 1969 to eliminate the requirement of a commission’sapproval for termination of pregnancies of less than 10 weeks’ duration,a requirement that had been a practical and psychological obstacle toabortion. Although abortion rates continued to be very high, the formerGovernment essentially achieved its objective: illegal abortions werepractically eliminated and the country experienced a significant declinein maternal morbidity and mortality related to abortionBosnia’s abortion laws stem from a statute enacted in the formerYugoslavia in 1977 that made abortion available through 10 weeks intoa pregnancy. Abortion was also allowed in cases that threatened themother’s life or cases that involved severe fetal abnormalities. The 1977law is still in effect, and abortions are free under Bosnian’s health caresystem necessary to save the life of the mother.Bosnia and Herzegovina, abortion is allowed on request during thefirst 10 weeks of pregnancy. The intervention must be performed in ahospital or other authorized health-care facility. If the woman is a minor,approval of her parents or guardian is required, unless she is 16 years ofage or over and earns her own living. After the first 10 weeks ofpregnancy, special authorization by a commission, composed of agynaecologist/obstetrician, a general physician or a specialist in internalmedicine, and a social worker or psychologist, is required. Thecommission may consent to an abortion when it is medically establishedthat it would otherwise be impossible to save the woman’s life orprevent damage to her health, whether it should be during pregnancy,delivery or post-partum; when the probability that the child would beborn with a serious congenital physical or mental defect is medicallyestablished; or when the conception is a consequence of a criminal act ofrape, criminal act of sexual intercourse with an incompetent person,criminal act of sexual intercourse in consequence of abuse of authority,criminal act of sexual intercourse with a child or criminal act of incest.The woman can appeal to the Commission of Second Instance if theCommission of First Instance rejects her request. After 20 weeks ofgestation, abortion may be allowed only to save the life or health of awoman who is seriously endangered.

Abstract

Bu çalışmadaki ilk amacımız kürtaj alanındaki liberalleşme çalışmalarına bir genel bakış girişiminde bulunmaktı. Kürtaja iten nedenleri öncelikle ele aldık. Kürtaj bir çok ülkede çok farklı görüşlerin çıkmasına neden oluyor. Hamile kadının hakları ile doğmamış çocuğun hakları arasında bir denge kurulması her zaman kolay olmamaktadır. 1952’den itibaren eski Yugoslavya’da yasadışı kürtaja karşı bir tepki olarak liberalleşme yönünde adımlar atıldı. Eski hükümet bu konuda hedefine ulaşmış ve yasa dışı kürtaj Pratik olarak önlenmiştir. Bosna’nın kürtaj hukuku da eski Yugoslavya’da 1977 yılında yapılan kanuna dayanmakta olup, bu kanun 10 haftaya kadar kürtaja izin vermektedir. Annenin hayatının tehlike olması veya ağır özürlülük halinde de kürtaj mümkündür. Bu kanun hala yürürlüktedir. Kadının yaşının küçük olması halinde ebeveyninin izni gerekir. 10 haftadan sonar da özel bir komisyonun izniyle kürtaj mümkündür. 20.haftadan sonra ise ancak kadının sağlığının veya hayatının kurtarılması için kürtaj yapılabilir.